Wrestlers Protest Leadership in Indian Wrestling Federation; Bajrang Punia to Return Padma Shri

Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia has decided to return his Padma Shri award in protest against the election of Sanjay Singh as the president of the Wrestling Federation of India. Sanjay Singh is a confidante of Brij Bhushan Singh, who is accused of sexual harassment. Punia expressed his dissatisfaction in a letter to the Prime Minister, stating that the decision to return the award was made in response to the failure to remove Brij Bhushan Singh and his supporters from the wrestling federation, despite assurances from the Union Sports Minister.

The protest gained momentum after wrestler Sakshi Malik announced her retirement in protest against Sanjay Singh’s election. Malik, along with fellow wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, led a demonstration in Delhi, demanding the arrest of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh for allegedly sexually assaulting seven wrestlers, including a minor.